Another Look at the GOP Do-Nothing Congress

Just in case you forgot what it was like to actually legislate amidst all of the political show votes from House Republicans, we here in the Democratic Whip Press Shop wanted to remind you that five years ago today, the Democratic-led Congress completed passage of our “100 Hours” agenda. It’s a pretty interesting comparison between what Democrats accomplished when we took the majority in 2007 with a Republican president in the White House, and how the GOP Congress fared in 2011.

In the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, Democrats passed bills that:

Implemented the 9/11 Commission recommendations and took a vital step forward in protecting the American people

Increased the minimum wage for the first time in ten years and helped put more money in the pockets of working Americans

And what do Republicans have to show for their Do-Nothing Congress? Fewer bills signed into law and passed through the House, fewer votes, and fewer Committee mark-ups. Even if we look at what they did in their first month – rather than 100 hours – it’s not the list Americans want to see:

Passed a Rules package that paves the way to adding nearly $5 trillion to the deficit

Repealed patient rights and put insurance companies back in control of health care

Passed a "budgetless" resolution, a non-substantive bill that broke their Pledge to America

Put forward a spending bill that would harm economic growth and job creation by making irresponsible spending cuts

Here’s hoping that in year #2, Republicans stop walking away from the American people and get to work on jobs and the deficit.